The Church commemorates Venerable Nicetas the Confessor, Abbot of Medikion, Venerable Joseph the Hymnographer, Martyrs Bithonius, Galycus, Dius, Elpidephorus, and New Martyr New Martyr Paul the Russian.
Saint Joseph was born in Sicily to virtuous parents. After the death of his father, he went to Thessaloniki where he was tonsured a monk and then was ordained a presbyter. He was notable for his calligraphy and the composition of famous church hymns.
He later went to Constantinople but, due to his opposition to the decrees of the iconoclasts, he was expelled to Rome. However, he returned to Constantinople and reposed in the Lord in old age in AD 842.
Saint Joseph’s hymnography consists of canons. His contribution to the hymnographic completion of “Octoechos” is of great importance, taking into account that he covered most of the week, except for the Sunday whose canons were written by Cosmas the Melodist and John of Damascus.
Source: Church of Cyprus
